How to Install Windows 10 on a GPT Partition (Fix the GPT Error)

If Windows 10 Setup says “Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk is of the GPT partition style,” the problem isn’t the disk. The USB installer booted in the wrong mode. GPT disks need the PC to boot in UEFI mode, while the error appears when Setup was started in legacy BIOS (CSM) mode. This guide explains GPT vs. MBR, how to boot the installer in UEFI mode so Windows installs on GPT, how to convert a disk to GPT when needed, and how to check which style your disk uses.

Quick Answer

Restart, open your PC’s boot menu, and choose the USB entry that starts with UEFI:. If there’s no UEFI entry, enter BIOS setup, set the boot mode to UEFI (and disable CSM/Legacy), and try again. In Setup, delete the partitions on the target drive and install to the unallocated space. Windows creates the GPT partitions automatically.

GPT vs. MBR in Plain Terms

	GPT	MBR
Boot mode	UEFI	Legacy BIOS (CSM)
Maximum disk size	Effectively unlimited	2 TB
Partitions	Up to 128	4 primary
Secure Boot and Windows 11 support	Yes	No
Recommended	Yes, for any modern PC	Only for very old PCs without UEFI

Method 1: Boot the Installer in UEFI Mode (Recommended)

1. Plug in the Windows 10 USB drive and restart.
2. Press the boot menu key (commonly F12, F11, F9, or Esc, depending on the manufacturer).
3. Choose the entry labeled UEFI: [your USB drive], not the one without “UEFI.”
4. In Setup, choose Custom: Install Windows only, delete the partitions on the disk (back up first), select Unallocated Space, and click Next.

Method 2: Switch the Firmware to UEFI

1. Enter BIOS/UEFI setup (often F2 or Del at startup).
2. Find Boot Mode, Boot List Option, or CSM.
3. Set it to UEFI and disable CSM or Legacy support.
4. Save, exit, and boot from the USB again.

Method 3: Recreate the USB for UEFI

The Media Creation Tool creates USB drives that boot in both modes. If you used Rufus, recreate the drive with Partition scheme: GPT and Target system: UEFI (non CSM).

Convert a Disk to GPT (When Needed)

Empty disk or clean install (erases everything)

1. In Setup, press Shift + F10 to open Command Prompt.
2. Run diskpart, list disk, and select disk 0 (use the correct number).
3. Run clean, then convert gpt, then exit.
4. Close Command Prompt, click Refresh, and install to the unallocated space.

Existing Windows 10 install (keeps your data)

Microsoft’s built-in MBR2GPT tool converts the system disk without data loss. Back up first anyway.

1. Open Command Prompt as administrator.
2. Run mbr2gpt /validate /allowFullOS to check the disk.
3. If validation passes, run mbr2gpt /convert /allowFullOS.
4. Restart, enter BIOS, and switch the boot mode to UEFI.

If you use BitLocker, suspend it before converting.

Check Your Disk’s Partition Style

• Open Disk Management, right-click the disk label (for example, Disk 0), choose Properties > Volumes, and look at Partition style.
• Or run diskpart, then list disk. An asterisk (*) in the Gpt column means GPT.
• To check how Windows booted, press Windows + R, run msinfo32, and look at BIOS Mode (UEFI or Legacy).

The Opposite Error: “The selected disk has an MBR partition table”

This means Setup booted in UEFI mode but the disk is MBR. Delete all partitions in Setup (the disk becomes unallocated and Setup creates GPT), or convert with convert gpt as above.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I install Windows 10 on GPT with legacy BIOS?

No. Windows boots from GPT only in UEFI mode.

Will converting to GPT delete my files?

DiskPart’s clean erases everything. MBR2GPT converts without deleting files, but always back up first.

Do I need GPT for Windows 11?

Yes. Windows 11 requires UEFI with Secure Boot capability, which uses GPT.

Summary

1. The GPT error means the USB booted in legacy mode.
2. Boot the USB’s UEFI: entry, or switch the firmware to UEFI.
3. Delete old partitions and install to unallocated space.
4. Use diskpart convert gpt on empty disks, or MBR2GPT to convert without data loss.